Rosemary Dun announced this week that due to ill health and
a change of management she’s had to hang up her spangly frocks and put an end
to the legendary Bristol Folk House Open Mike night.

“I’ve had loads of fun hosting it,” says Rosemary, “I want
to thank all of the performers who have made this night special over the years
as well as all the members of the audience who were always great.
However, the end of an era is not always sad as it marks the
beginning of another o...

THE UGLY TREE poetry magazine’s latest issue, just launched, has a host of poets and their work. There’s an interview with, and poetry from, Gerry Potter (aka Chloe Poems) plus: Tony Walsh, Hannah Kate, Caroline England, Dave Hall, Vincent Berquez, Dermot Glennon, Kate Noakes, Matt Doran, Sarah L. Dixon, John G. Hall, Todd Swift & Geoff Stevens.
To order a copy: www.mucusart.co.uk/theuglytree.htm <http://www.mucusart.co.uk/theuglytree.htm> or visit Cornerhouse bookshop on Oxford St...

The Route Book at Bedtime looks scheduled to be published
in the Autumn, so a deadline for submissions will soon be set. It’s
likely that this deadline will be early summer so if you’d like to get
a story in, you need to be thinking about it now.
Submission guidelines visit www.id-publishing.com
Route publishing programme visit www.route-online.com
General enquiries please mail info@route-online.com...

Zingedy! Dingedy! Bingedy! Bong! Limericks, rhymes, poems and songs. Awarding winning poet and performer Helên’s much anticipated collection for 7-11 year olds, "We are Poets!" is available now. With illustrations by Paul Neads.
The We Are Poets! anthology features a selection of children’s poems ranging from the floor filling anthemic action poem: 'Everybody Everywhere Stomp Your Feet!' to the calming chill-out poetry of 'Memory Beach'. The book showcases a variety of p...

International Women’s Week Liverpool - 3rd to 12th March

Women Wanted – DJ's, Comediennes, Banner Makers, Poets, Actors etc.

If you want to be involved then please contact the relevant co-ordinators for each of the events
Any
women’s groups, organisations and individuals are welcome to get
involved; a commitment to furthering ‘peace and empowerment of women’
is requested.
IWD 08 Art Exhibition

Venue: The Egg Café, off Bold Street/Renshaw Street, Liverpool
Month lon...

Anyone fancy helping start a new open-floor night in Newton-Le-Willows? Contact Johnny Dee and offer your support: johnnydee@blueyonder.co.uk.
That's Newton railway station, by the way.

After months of hard work the Festival Team is proud (and pretty excited!) to announce this year's lineup. From the godfather of hip-hop poetry Saul Williams (pictured) to cult indie musician and writer Edward Larrikin and spoken word duo dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip; from novelists Joshua Ferris and Joe Dunthorne to comedians Josie Long and Richard Herring. We hope there's something wordy for everyone!
The festival runs from 20 February - 14 March 2008 and for full details see http://w...

Little Bird Magazine is looking for submissions: No poem is too short but anything over 50 or so lines is quite long enough. We'd like to print poems that fulfil any of the following: Lively, Amusing, Rhythmical, Use local dialect, Are about Liverpool in some way, Make interesting use of rhyme. Here are a few themes which reflect our content: Liverpool. Literature, Art, Theatre, Music, Architecture, Pigeons, Obsession, Frustration, Creativity, Little birds. We are happy to receiv...

Big Love Potion

from Monkfish Productions

Thursday 7th February starting at 8.00pm

We have been
working hard all weekend to bring you a dark new multi-media spoken
word cabaret event. I have seen the rehearsal, I have watched the
performers, I have even written a piece myself and it’s going to be
fantastic... One hour of Big Love... DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT......

It will feature
brand new work from both professional (e.g. Ross Sutherland from Aisle16 -pictured...

That’s according to Jeremy Myerson, Prof of Design Studies at The Royal College of Art.
Tony’s 20-minute poem, Zeroes and Ones, was declared the highlight of the WorkTech, the annual workplace, technology and innovation conference at The British Library, by some of the 400 delegates:
“…performance of Zeroes and Ones. It was quite an extraordinary experience and undoubtedly the most memorable event of an excellent conference.”
Joanna Bawa, Editor, Usability News
"Very, very cleve...

Here's something novel, as part of the Oxford Science Festival, a poetry slam hosted simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic, connected and projected via an internet link.
Taylor Mali leads a team of New York slam champions live from Manhattan screened instantaneously in the UK where a team of UK slam champions attempt to show the world who has the greatest poetic performers.
@ Science Oxford, 1-5 London Place, East Oxford 8th March 2008 8pm GMT for more information email events@hamm...

Last Saturday of every month in the bar at Southport Arts Centre, Lord Street, Southport
Workshop 1: Sat 23rd Feb and last Saturday each month
12 to 3pm
Run by award-winning writer Alison Chisholm. In February we will focus on characters so come along if you’ve ever wondered how to create realistic characters and give them a voice.
No experience necessary
For more information call Sefton Arts Development on 07792258413
Or email: Kate.Gorst@leisure.sefton.gov.uk
Or just come along on the day!...

Yes even more chances to win some dosh!
Pulsar, Year 2007/2008, Poetry Competition | Closing Date: 30-Apr-08
For
poems of up to 40 lines. Open to everyone over 16 years of age. Final
Adjudicator: David Pike. First prize £125, second prize £75, third
prize £50.
Entry Fee: £2.50 for the first poem, subsequent poems £1.50 each

Contact: Poetry Competition Administrator, Pulsar Poetry Magazine, 34 Lineacre, Grage Park, Swindon, Wiltshire SN5 6DA
Website: www.pulsarpoetry.com
Torbay Ope...

Congratulations to Write Out Loud regular Tony Walsh for winning the "Big Love" Valentine slam at Birmingham's Midlands Arts Centre on Friday, adding this success to his recent fantastic commissioned piece at the British Library, reported last week.
He is now picking up even more prestigious gigs on top of invitations to Warsaw and Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Tony’s talent is at last being recognised, although Lady Luck did play a part on Friday.
Arriving late as a spectator, having be...

In this age of the DVD, computer games and ipods, it's good to know that at least some of the latest generation are still interested in writing poetry. For instance, Niamh Foley from the Wirral (pictured), is not only interested in poetry but has already won a prize and is determined to make poetry an important part of her life.
Well done Niamh! And don’t forget, in only nine years we’ll be seeing you at one of our poetry events when you’ll be so good….well the...

The festival runs from the 14th to 22nd February. Featuring a top line-up of children's writers including Michael Rosen, John Hegley, Philip Ardagh, Jeremy Strong, Francesca Beard, Eoin Colfer and children's stand-up comedian James Campbell.
This year's Imagine Festival is a feast of words, laughter, jokes and games especially for children. Featuring storytelling, fiction, poetry, stand-up comedy and music, the festival features top children's authors and performers. The fun...

Here are links for 6 competitions - good luck!
Deadline
Competition
Judge
9th Feb
Norwich Writers' Circle 2008 Open Poetry Competition
www.norwichwriters.org.uk
John Coleridge, Mary Ingate, Doris Corti
30th Apr
Ver Poets Open Competition 2008
www.verpoets.org.uk/page_03.htm
Maggie Butt.
30th Apr
Ware Poets Open Poetry Compet...

A queer community poetry installation on the theme of modern love at Contact Theatre, Oxford Road Manchester from 8.30pm this Friday and Saturday and it's Free!
This is the poet Dominic Berry's (pictured) directorial debut; we've got 20 of Manchester's best poets
(including Jackie Hagan, Lisa B, Freed Up's Steve O and Contact's At
Home artist the fantastic Fergus) who have been working really hard
since December to create an honest and original exciting modern piece. "There's some...

Finding Your Voice: STAND AND DELIVER
Sevenoaks, Kent
Fax +44 (0) 208 333 2468 www.commonwork.org
creative@tomrobinson.com www.tomrobinson.com/stand

Finding Your Voice presents STAND AND DELIVER

Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April 2008

This weekend workshop has been
developed for songwriters and singers of all abilities. Whether you're a
seasoned professional or an absolute beginner you'll find your creative
confide...

Last month's poem of the month writer, Cath Nichols, has chosen this month's poem.

Cath says,"Catherine Smith’s poem starts in a recognizable place (the religious door-to-door salesman) but then morphs off elsewhere. It encourages empathy but also surprises. I like that the religious type is not a Jehovah’s Witness, he’s ‘Presbyterian’, and that the woman trapped on her doorstep visualizes her soul as a tatty mongrel dog that she’s happy to lose. This is so distinctly ‘other’...